European Space Agency Announces Competition to Develop Commercial Space Capsule for 2028 Launch Amid Growing Reliance on SpaceX

Competition Aims to Propel Development of European Commercial Spacecraft for ISS Cargo Transportation, With Opportunities for Future Crewed Missions and Lunar Travels Amid Reliance on American Firms for Launch Services.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a competition for the development of a commercial space capsule for cargo transportation to the International Space Station (ISS), slated for a 2028 launch.
The ESA's competition winner will receive some funding and technical support but must also fund part of the development and operate the vessel on a commercial basis, selling the resupply service to the ESA.
The ESA intends to replicate the successful procurement model of NASA, which has significantly relied on SpaceX for space transportation services.
European launch capabilities currently face challenges, with significant delays in the development of Europe's own Ariane 6 rockets and reliance on American and Russian launch services. The ESA has turned to SpaceX for the launch of four Galileo satellites in 2024.
The European SpaceTech industry, compared to rivals like the US and China, is experiencing a huge funding gap, largely due to a lack of competition and government-initiated public-private partnerships, often seen in American and Chinese space programs.